Kylian Mbappe continued his impressive start in La Liga, netting his fourth goal in just three matches as Real Madrid staged a comeback to secure a resounding victory against Espanyol.
Despite dominating the game, the undefeated hosts found themselves trailing nine minutes into the second half. The setback came when Thibaut Courtois inadvertently directed Jofre Carreras’ cross into his own net.
However, Espanyol’s surprising lead was short-lived, lasting a mere four minutes. Jude Bellingham’s pass somehow found its way beneath goalkeeper Joan Garcia, allowing Dani Carvajal to easily slot the ball into an unguarded goal.
Real Madrid completed their turnaround with 15 minutes left on the clock. Rodrygo connected with Vinicius Junior’s cross to put the hosts ahead. The Brazilian duo wasn’t finished, as substitute Vinicius added a third just three minutes later. Mbappe then rounded off the scoring by converting a late penalty.
The first half proved frustrating for the hosts, who unleashed 14 shots on goal. Mbappe came closest to breaking the deadlock but was thwarted by Garcia from close range.
By the final whistle, Carlo Ancelotti’s side had amassed an astounding 31 attempts on goal. In stark contrast, Espanyol managed just a single shot, which came in the 68th minute. Even after falling behind in the second half, Real never lost their composure.
Mbappe, who now boasts six goals in his first eight appearances since his summer move from Paris St-Germain, showcased his playmaking abilities as well. He provided a perfectly weighted through-ball for Vinicius’s goal before calmly slotting home his penalty, awarded after Carlos Romero fouled Endrick.
This victory propelled Real to second place in La Liga, having won four of their opening six fixtures. They now sit just one point behind leaders Barcelona, who will look to maintain their perfect record when they face Villarreal on Sunday.
The win also saw Ancelotti’s team equal the second-longest unbeaten run in La Liga history. They now trail only Barcelona’s record of 43 consecutive league games without defeat, set between 2017 and 2018.
